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WIth Sarah, Paresh and Jeremy -
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In the courtyard
Members' Quarterly Cigar Social
27th July 2026The Cigar Emporium, 44 Thames Street, Windsor
Casdagli Cigars and Havana House
A train journey to Royal Windsor brought me to a convivial gathering of our Company’s Smokers' Club in a pretty courtyard at Havana House, the renowned cigar emporium in Thames Street owned by Paresh Patel, former Chairman and longstanding supporter of the Association of Independent Tobacco Specialists, and generous provider of the evening's Casdagli cigars.
The evening was hosted by Liveryman Sarah Saunders of the Women's International Cigar Club, while our guest speaker was Jeremy Casdagli, founder and co-owner of Casdagli Cigars. Headquartered in Tallinn, Estonia, the company produces premium luxury cigars in Costa Rica, drawing on a rich Cuban heritage with a strong emphasis on craftsmanship, quality and tradition.
It is said that the soldiers of Napoleon's La Grande Armée played a significant role in spreading cigar smoking across continental Europe during their campaigns. Jeremy spoke engagingly about the cigars in his Brothers of the Sabre collection, each named after distinguished generals who fought either for France or the Coalition during the Napoleonic Wars.
Our cigar for the evening honoured General Michel Ney, “the bravest of the brave” and one of Napoleon's most celebrated marshals. Jeremy recounted Ney's remarkable military career, his tragic end and the intriguing links between his story and tobacco. I enjoyed watching everyone light up a superb cigar bearing Ney's name, complete with an exquisitely designed band and presented in a beautifully crafted box created especially for the blend.
The evening's entertaining conversation included a story about another of Casdagli's Brothers of the Sabre cigars, Vater, named after Field Marshal Joseph Radetzky, affectionately known as "Father" by his troops. In January 1848, Italian nationalists in Milan attempted to undermine Austrian rule by boycotting cigars and the state lottery, depriving the Habsburg authorities of valuable tax revenues. Radetzky's response was characteristically robust: he gave his soldiers extra rations of government-issued cigars and ordered them to smoke conspicuously in the streets. It was a delightful tale that prompted the suggestion that Johann Strauss the Elder's Radetzky March, composed in the Field Marshal's honour, should become the unofficial signature tune of our Company!
We also heard about the significant difficulties facing the premium cigar industry, particularly in Cuba, and took the opportunity to thank (in her absence) Liveryman Jemma Freeman of Hunters & Frankau for her tireless work representing the interests of the UK cigar trade and supporting specialist tobacconists during a period of considerable challenge.
Paresh's carefully chosen rum and whisky provided the perfect accompaniment to the cigars, rounding off an evening of fellowship, generosity, fascinating history and, above all, the pleasure of good company.
Evenings such as this are a reminder that cigars are about far more than the finished product. Behind every cigar lies generations of accumulated knowledge, skilled craftsmanship, carefully sourced materials and a deep respect for heritage. These values resonate strongly with our own Company, which celebrates craftsmanship, preserves heritage and encourages fellowship among those who value these enduring skills. It was a privilege to spend an evening in such knowledgeable company, learning more about a craft whose traditions continue to be passed from one generation to the next.